| I am trying to find out something about William Clifford, third bishop of Clifton. Any suggestions? |
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I have identified the following sources among my own books making reference to William Clifford Bishop of Clifton, there are likely to be many more in
other locations. [1] The Diocese of Clifton 1850 - 2000 ISBN 0 9536689 0 8 Published by the Clifton Catholic Diocesan Trustees [ you can probably get a copy by writing to St Ambrose, Leigh Woods, Clifton Bristol BS8 3PW bishops.secretary@btinternet.com [2] A History of Prior Park College Rev Brother J. S. Roche published London Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd 1931 [ this publication has a photo/plate of Bishop Clifford - could scan and send to enquirer if provided with the email address.] [3] The Vatican Council 1869 - 1870 Dom Cuthbert Butler OSB Published Longmans, Green & Co Ltd 1930 [Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Somerset may have additional archive or other material.] But a few facts to go on with: William Clifford Third Bishop of Clifton 1857 - 1893 born at Irnham, Lincolnshire 24 December 1823 second son of the seventh Baron Clifford of Chudleigh. After being educated in various establishments in Europe and in Britain, he was ordained priest in the ProCathedral Church of the Holy Apostles, Park Place, Clifton, Bristol 25 August 1850 [ NB now replaced by the Cathedral Church of Saints Peter & Paul, Clifton Park, Bristol www.cliftoncathedral.org.uk/index.html ] After studying in Rome, he was ordained Bishop by Pope Pius IX 15 February 1857 and returned to take up his post as Bishop of Clifton. He restored the parlous diocesan finances, re-opened the diocesan college and seminary Prior Park, Bath, and undertook a massive refurbishment of the ProCathedral. Nationally, Bishop Clifford came into prominence for the part he played in the deliberations at the First Council of the Vatican in 1870. He died in 1893 at Prior Park College, Bath on 14 August, and is buried there. Bishop Hedley OSB of Newport summed up the character of Bishop Clifford "I knew him as an honest man, as a good man, as a God-fearing man, as a kind man, as an able man, as one who deserved to be called like the prophet of old - a lover of his brethren." You should also be able to research the archives of the Clifford family, and those of the Diocese of Clifton and Prior Park College if desired. Peregrinator Ignotus |